Mark Lawrenson

Mark Lawrenson is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer who played as a defender for Liverpool, among others, during the 1970s and 1980s. He began his career, as a 17-year-old, with his hometown club, Preston North End in 1974 who were then managed by World Cup winner Bobby Charlton. Lawrenson was voted Preston's Player of the Year for the 1976–77 season.

After 73 league appearances for the Deepdale club he moved to Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer before the start of the 1977–78 season. He went on to make 152 league appearances by the end of the 1980–81 season. However the club entered a financial crisis in 1981 and Lawrenson was forced to leave the club to make funds available. Liverpool offered a club transfer record of £900,000, and Lawrenson joined in the summer of 1981. He was to form a formidable central defensive partnership with Alan Hansen. At Liverpool he won 5 League Championships, 3 League Cups, the FA Cup and in 1984 the European Cup.